Little Rock was discovered and named by French explorer Bernard de La Harpe in 1722. While traveling up the Arkansas River, La Harpe met some Quapaw Indians who told him about a huge, solid emerald boulder near the river.

But he only found the large cliff on the north shore, the “Big Rock” and “La Petite Roche” — the little rock that was the first outcropping of stone about the mouth of the river. About a hundred years later, in 1821, Little Rock became the capital of the newly-created Arkansas territory. Some of Little Rock’s original buildings are just a short walk from the downtown area, at the Arkansas Territorial Restoration at Third and Scott streets.

Greater Little Rock is located in the center of the state and is served by five interstate highways: I-30, I-40, I-430, I-630 and I-440.

Little Rock typically enjoys mild winters and very warm summers, with an average summer temperature of 81.4 degrees and an average winter temperature of 39.5 degrees. Little Rock’s average annual rainfall is 48.52 inches, and average snowfall is 5.2 inches.

Little Rock has a busy arts calendar, with outstanding symphony and pops orchestras performing from Sept. through May. Ballet Arkansas and the opera theater at the Wildwood Performing Arts Center offer performances throughout the year, while performances from the excellent Arkansas Rep theater are available 280 days a year. The Arkansas Arts Center owns an internationally-renowned collection of drawings dating from the Renaissance period to the present. Dances, plays, films and educational experiences for both children and adults are also provided year-round, at various locations throughout the city as well as at several venues on the UALR campus.

Attractions in Little Rock include the Old State House Museum, which was built in 1836 and used as the state’s first capitol building west of the Mississippi River; the current Arkansas State Capitol, which features neoclassical design and was built from 1899 to 1915; the River Market District featuring gift shops, markets and restaurants; and the Central High Museum, a civil rights landmark with an interactive exhibit depicting the 1957 desegregation of the school.

RANKED FIFTH-LEAST TROUBLED CITY

A study of the central cities in the 86 largest metropolitan areas by the Nelson Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York, found Little Rock the fifth least-troubled city in the country.

The Urban Hardship Study was released in 2004 and was based on 2000 Census Information, the survey ranked the 86 cities on the basis of six factors — unemployment, education, income, housing, poverty and the proportion of the population younger than 18 and older than 64.

The Rockefeller Institute has built a national reputation as a nonpartisan authority on state and local government policy and finances. Only Seattle, Wash., Raleigh, N.C., Virginia Beach, Va., and Austin, Texas ranked ahead of Little Rock.


CITY AT A GLANCE

Geographical Location - Little Rock is located in the center of the state of Arkansas, which is located near the center of the U.S., in the Sun Belt. It was incorporated on October 7, 1831.

Current Population - 250,000 in the Little Rock city limits. 600,000 in the Greater Little Rock Metropolitan Area.

Average Temperature - Summer (July) 81.4 degrees; Winter (January) 42.5 degrees.

Altitude - 286 feet above sea level; residential areas between 300 and 630 feet above sea level.

Area - Little Rock = 99.48 square miles; North Little Rock 37.27 square miles; Pulaski County 781.0 square miles.

Average Rainfall - 48.52 inches

Average Snowfall - 5.2 inches

Airport - Major U.S. airport 10 minutes from campus. American, Southwest, Delta, TWA, & Northwest all fly into Little Rock.

Little Rock’s Greatest Resource is its people-the people are noted for their warmth, hospitality & involvement in the community.